Cheetahs make playoffs, Blues' hopes over

Jul 6, 2013 - 6:34 PM A 34-13 loss to the playoffs-bound Cheetahs in Bloemfontein has condemned New Zealand's Blues to a fifth successive loss and ensured they won't contest the Super Rugby knockout stages.

Instead, the South African side booked their first-ever appearance in the post-season, scoring three tries to one in a game they dominated on Saturday.

A bye in next weekend's final round means the Cheetahs are guaranteed four more points and will finish either fifth or sixth.

Their victory ended the playoff hopes of three other teams - the Blues and South African sides the Sharks and Stormers.

Any slim chance the Blues had of advancing disappeared in another performance in which they were outplayed up front.

They were constantly marched backwards at scrum time and struggled with the physicality of the hosts at the breakdown.

Injuries in the lead up to halfback Piri Weepu and five-eighth Chris Noakes left them lacking some attacking direction, although replacements Jamison Gibson-Park and Baden Kerr received little quality ball to work with.

The lively Gibson-Park handed them a 7-3 lead with their only try before the boot of Cheetahs five-eighth Riaan Smit took over.

Smit landed seven-from-seven shots at goal in a 15-point haul, including the conversion of No.8 Philip van der Walt's try after a tighthead scrum to put the hosts 19-10 ahead at halftime.

The Blues created few opportunities after the break but managed to defend their line until late in the game, when Cheetahs reserves Sarel Pretorius and Boom Prinsloo crossed.

While the Cheetahs are the first team to complete the regular season, the Blues have one game remaining, against the Chiefs in Auckland on Saturday.

Source: AAP